The Florida law, passed in 2006, says people who feel threatened don't have to retreat from danger, no matter where they are. And it became a huge point of contention after Zimmerman's arrest, with his supporters saying the incident demonstrated the precise need for the law and critics saying it encourages a "Wild West" or vigilante mentality.

But Zimmerman's lawyers say it doesn't apply to his case, at least not exactly.

"In this particular case, George did not have an ability to retreat because he was on the ground with Trayvon Martin mounting him, striking blows, therefore the Stand Your Ground 'benefit' given by the statute simply does not apply to the facts of George's case: it is traditional self-defense," Zimmerman's attorneys said on the web site detailing his legal case.

But they do intend to ask a judge to apply the immunity provisions of Florida's self-defense law to stave off a trial on the charges.

Unstable ground: The fine line between self-defense and murder

The law says people who use fatal force within the guidelines set out by the law are immune from prosecution.

A hearing on the issue could happen in April, according to the web site. ::snipping2::

SANFORD, Fla. - One year after the shooting of Trayvon Martin thrust this small central Florida city into the national spotlight, life in Sanford is returning to its regular rhythm.

After the death of the black 17-year-old at the hands of a neighborhood watch leader, civil rights leaders warned that Sanford risked its reputation as an upscale Mayberry and could become a 21st century version of civil rights flashpoints like Selma, Ala.

It seems Mayberry won out -- at least for now. Downtown is abuzz with the activity of 1st Street shops and restaurants, not the sounds of marching protesters. ::snipping2::

NBC says in response to lawsuit that Zimmerman doesn't deserve a payout from us6:58 p.m. EST, February 26, 2013

SANFORD — Attorneys for NBC Universal Media LLC have filed a response to the defamation suit filed by murder defendant George Zimmerman, saying the murder suspect deserves no payout from it.

In two pleadings that total more than 100 pages, the company also asks Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson to put a temporary hold on the civil suit until Zimmerman's second-degree murder case is concluded.

"While there is no legitimate basis for Zimmerman's claims against these defendants, who fairly and accurately reported about a news event that has captivated the nation, now is simply not the time to litigate them," wrote Gregg D. Thomas, a Tampa attorney who specializes in media issues and was hired by NBC.

The criminal case is set for trial June 10. Nelson is the judge assigned both cases.

Zimmerman filed suit against NBC in December, alleging that NBC and its Miami affiliate, WTVJ, falsely portrayed him as a racist in five reports. ::snipping2::

"This court has 'no power or authority' … to compel the FBI to produce the documents at issue here," wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Flynn.

In her order, Nelson agreed with a defense request and ordered the FBI to open its case file to Zimmerman's attorneys.

A few weeks after the slaying, following protest rallies across the country, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into the shooting to determine whether Trayvon's civil rights were violated – whether he was killed because he was black.

It's not clear what that investigation has turned up. The FBI, which has done much of the work in the federal case, last week described the investigation as ongoing.

Defense attorneys Mark O'Mara and Don West have argued that they're entitled to all evidence gathered against their client, be it by local, state or federal authorities.

They've received a limited amount of FBI evidence – interview summaries that say three-dozen people who knew Zimmerman told agents they saw no signs he was a racist. ::snipping2::

(CNN) -- Whatever the outcome of the Trayvon Martin case, it will be viewed less as a determination of the shooter's guilt or innocence and more as a victory or loss for civil rights, George Zimmerman's lawyer fears.

Mark O'Mara said he has been busy trying to dispel the racial overtones in the case by getting out more evidence about his client.

His hope, he said, is that people will divorce a verdict from the real civil rights questions.

The civil rights issue

"The more people that consider an acquittal of George Zimmerman to be a loss for civil rights, the worse for civil rights," he told CNN's Piers Morgan.

A year ago, Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, shot Martin, an African-American teenager returning home after walking to a convenience store for a drink and a snack.

Zimmerman said he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors say he ignored a police dispatcher's advice and was guilty of racial profiling.

The case drew national attention because police did not bring charges against Zimmerman for more than a month after the shooting, saying the circumstances required further investigation.

'Absolutely no racism'

O'Mara said the evidence will show that Zimmerman wasn't profiling. He said the FBI investigated the shooting and found "absolutely no racism."

"As a matter of fact, they found a lot of events and instances where George was what you might call an absolute nonracist," O'Mara said ::snipping2::

A 13-year-old boy who, while walking his dog, heard George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin fighting, was deposed by defense attorneys yesterday.

So was the Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent who worked to download information from Trayvon's phone. ::snipping2::Lawyers today filed notice of the depositions they took yesterday.

They included a now-14-year-old boy identified as witness 14. Last year, he told the Orlando Sentinel that while walking his dog he heard screams and someone crying for help. He saw one – not two - figures.

The man he saw was on the ground, he said, and was wearing red.

Zimmerman that night had on a red jacket. Trayvon was wearing a dark gray hoodie.

The boy told the Sentinel in an interview March 15 that he turned away because his dog had gotten loose and that while catching him, he heard a gunshot then went inside out of fear.

Also deposed yesterday was Stephen Brenton, the FDLE agent who managed to download some information from Trayvon's cell phone but was locked out and could not access its main flash drive.

George Zimmerman lawyer: No 'stand your ground' hearing in April 10:44 a.m. EST, March 5, 2013

SANFORD - George Zimmerman's "stand your ground" hearing will not begin April 22 as planned, after his lawyer Mark O'Mara told a judge this morning he will not need the court time she'd set aside.

O'Mara stopped short of confirming that Zimmerman will combine the hearing with his trial, as the defense lawyer has previously said he was considering. Zimmerman was expected to seek immunity from prosecution under the controversial self-defense law.

The revelation was the second major development to come from this morning's hearing.

Attorneys for George Zimmerman were expected to ask his judge this morning to order the state's most important witness, the young Miami woman who was on the phone with Trayvon Martin just before he was shot, to produce medical records.

However, defense lawyer Don West made a startling claim shortly after the hearing began: The state had revealed, before the hearing, that there are no medical records.

The woman, the defense lawyer said, "misrepresented" in a sworn statement that she missed Trayvon's funeral because she had been hospitalized.

"In fact, she lied," West said.

Prosecutor John Guy confirmed there will be no medical records, effectively confirming that there was no hospital trip. ::snipping2::After their discussion of Witness 8, the state and defense debated a set of witness bios the Zimmerman defense wants from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE says they're irrelevant and contain confidential information.

The judge left court to review them, and returned with redacted copies. She said the defense will get those copies, with the exempt confidential information, such as social security numbers, removed.

The judge was also expected to be asked to decide whether to allow Zimmerman's attorneys access to surveillance camera video from two stores near the scene of the shooting and an apartment complex.

However, O'Mara told the judge that the issue had been resolved before the hearing.

She lied about being in the hospital. She did not attend her 'close' friend Trayvon's funeral. Was she even talking to Trayvon that night when all of this happened? If so,why did she not cal 911 to say that her friend was being attacked, stalked . Whatever....

She lied about being in the hospital. She did not attend her 'close' friend Trayvon's funeral. Was she even talking to Trayvon that night when all of this happened? If so,why did she not cal 911 to say that her friend was being attacked, stalked . Whatever....

Good questions...we'll probably get more information when she testifies at the trial.

The judge in the George Zimmerman murder case on Monday signed orders, directing Twitter and Facebook to release to defense attorneys all of Trayvon Martin's posted comments, photos, videos and messages plus his list of Facebook friends.

Circuit Judge Debra S. Nelson did the same for the state's most important witness, the young Miami woman who was on the phone with Trayvon moments before Zimmerman shot him.

The subpoenas are no surprise. The judge agreed months ago to sign them after defense attorneys argued they were entitled to the information.

They're important because they could wind up producing key information about both Trayvon, a 17-year-old high school junior from Miami Gardens, and the young woman, his girlfriend. ::snipping2::

I remember reading her Twitter, no mention of going to the hospital at all.

This is the Duke case all over again. I hope Corey gets debarred along with everybody else.

Does anybody think George will be found Guilty?

It's probably no surprise but I do think there are many holes in George Zimmerman's story and there is a possibility he will be found guilty of murdering Trayvon.

The discrepencies may not be so evident now with all the media hoopla and 'racism' distractions (GZ is a white S. American which had zero to do with Trayvon's death) but a good prosecutor will make them clear.

It's not exactly like the Duke case IMO, though there are similarities. Here we actually do have a dead victim and his killer who is far less than honest.

::snipping2::In an updated posted Thursday on its website, the Zimmerman Legal Defense Fund Trust released a brief report on its expenses, as it promised to supporters when the fund launched.

According to the report, the fund raised a total of $53,611.11 from Jan. 1 through March 3.

Of that, the report said $43,670.58 has already been spent as follows:

$16,000 on expert witnesses. $11,734.66 on household and living expenses, said to include most of March. $500 for security. $8,716.92 for law firm support and infrastructure. $5,879.31 in case-related expenses. $645.94 for fund management fees. $193.75 in other expenses.

That leaves the Zimmerman defense fund $9,940.53 on hand. The report said the fund is regarding that money as reserves for April expenses.

Fund managers said with the $16,000 allocated for expert witnesses, Zimmerman's defense retained three experts and an investigator, adding that there is a greater need for expert assistance to properly prepare for Zimmerman's June 10 second-degree murder trial for the death of Trayvon Martin in 2012. Zimmerman has claimed self-defense.

The defense fund said it has a $30,000 goal for March. That's after exceeding a similar goal for February, during which the fund raised $33,782.50.

"Funds raised in March will be used to retain the remaining experts we require and to ensure promised payment according to our agreements with experts already on board," the report said. "We must declare all our experts to the court by March 27."

almost $12,000 in a month for household expenses? ridiculous...they never had that kind of money a month to spend on their household before this happened, why so much now? they both need to get out and get jobs.

almost $12,000 in a month for household expenses? ridiculous...they never had that kind of money a month to spend on their household before this happened, why so much now? they both need to get out and get jobs.

Jose Baez turned analyst on the George Zimmerman case and gave viewers of preview of what they might see in coming months. "I have never seen a high-profile case that is so weak as the Zimmerman case," Baez told Lauren Rowe on WKMG-Channel 6's "Flashpoint." The program aired Sunday morning.

Baez said he based his view on the evidence and not on his representing Chris Serino, the lead Sanford police investigator in the case. "I just think looking at the overall case, it's extremely weak," Baez said. "I had that opinion from very early on in the case." ::snipping2::